Advertisement

UK Government: North Wales could be the site of 'super-prison' for more than 2,000 inmates

North Wales is in the running for a massive new "super prison" that could house more than 2,000 inmates - and bring hundreds of jobs to the region.

It's one of three areas being considered for the project across England and Wales.

The new building would be the largest prison in the UK and bring millions of pounds to the local economy.

The plans would also see a new mini jail built on the Parc prison site at Bridgend.

The Howard League for Penal Reform has attacked the plans, saying the project "will do nothing to cut crime".

The decision to spend hundreds of millions on a titanic prison is bizarre. Time and again, our prisons have proven a colossal waste of public money, with 58% of those on short-term sentences going on to commit more crime within 12 months of release.

The truth is that the government knows that there are far too many people in prison who shouldn’t be there, with the prison population having doubled since 1990. In particular, far more people who have committed non-violent crimes have been put on pointless sentences of six months or less.

– The Howard League for Penal Reform

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Elfyn Llwyd has rejected the idea of a 'super-prison', although he continues to back the construction of a smaller facility in North Wales

I will not support a titan prison of 2,000 places. They are evil places, they do not work, and I do not know what kind of jobs will be offered, and what kind of work it'll be at the end of the day.

To my way of thinking, it's utterly pointless.

– Elfyn Llwyd MP

Welsh Secretary David Jones MP says he's confident a strong case can be made for building the prison in North Wales.

We've already engaged heavily with the Ministry of Justice and I've already spoken to the Lord Chancellor and the Prisons Minister about this.

We will continue to press the case for North Wales, as it is an area of the country that it's already recognised is not properly catered for in the current prison system.